Skinny Jimmy's Picks: 5 underappreciated surf bands of the first wave
The first wave of instrumental surf (late '50s through mid-'60s) included many bands that remained under the radar and lack the notoriety they deserve.
>>> AUDIO: See and hear Jimmy's top 5
VIDEO & PHOTOS: Skinny Jimmy Stingray talks classic surf, performs at The Mai-Kai 
Skinny Jimmy Stingray and his band rocked The Molokai bar during December's Retro Rekindled community gathering. The live set followed a Q&A with The Atomic Grog about the guitarist's journey from punk to instro surf.
>>> See new video and photos from the event
Mai-Kai cocktail review: A heart-warming winter classic
Check out our updated tribute recipe for The Mai-Kai's Hot Buttered Rum, a seasonal classic with links to Tiki godfather Don the Beachcomber but also claiming roots that date back to colonial times.
Photos: 10 highlights from The Hukilau 2019 in Fort Lauderdale
Take a look back at last year's festivities with dozens of photos and 10 memorable moments.
>>> SEE THE PHOTO RECAP
Bonus cocktail recipes: Passion Fruit West Indies (Pagan Idol) | Playboy (Tiki Underground)
The Year in Tiki 2019: A look back at all the top events 
Check out photos and video plus links and coverage of top happenings around the globe, including Miami Rum Congress, Inuhele in Atlanta, Arizona Tiki Oasis, Tiki Caliente in Palm Springs, Miami Rum Renaissance Festival, The Hukilau in Fort Lauderdale, Tiki Kon in Portland, the Surf Guitar 101 Convention in California, Tiki Oasis in San Diego, the Hi-Tide Summer Holiday: Asbury Park, plus more!
>>> BROWSE ALL THE PAST EVENTS
Sippin' Santa comes to town: Beachbum Berry interview, plus recipes 
We caught up with Tiki historian, author and bar owner Jeff "Beachbum" Berry to ask him about his growing family of Sippin' Santa surf shacks, the delicious drinks, and what makes holiday pop-up bars so popular.
Bonus recipes: Tribute to Christmas Eve of Destruction | Nutty Old Fashioned
Previous story: Another holiday Miracle: Sippin' Santa locations double
Skinny Jimmy's Picks: The all-time top 5 Dick Dale songs 
Dick Dale uncovered something special in Southern California's sandy beaches that, like a powerful wave, could not be contained. In this second in a series of top 5 lists, Skinny Jimmy Stingray picks his favorite Dick Dale songs.
>>> AUDIO: See and hear Jimmy's top 5
Gone but not forgotten: Surf guitar pioneer Dick Dale, 1937-2019 
We knew him as the "King of the Surf Guitar," but he was so much more than that. Check out our tribute featuring South Florida remembrances and photos plus obituaries and social media reaction.
>>> Dick Dale's discography and top YouTube videos
The living dead came to party at The Mai-Kai's Hulaween 2019 luau 
After 10 years, we know what to expect from The Mai-Kai's infamous Hulaween party: Kooky costumes, rockin' tunes and many cocktails consumed in The Molokai bar. The 2019 bash lived up to those standards.
>>> Full recap and photo gallery
Eerie and evil tunes for your Halloween shindig 
In this first in a series of special features on instro surf music, Skinny Jimmy Stingray gives us his picks for the most sinister surf songs. "Nothing echoes quite as ghoulishly as the sound of a reverb-soaked electric guitar."
>>> AUDIO/VIDEO: See and hear Jimmy's top five
Mai-Kai cocktail review: If you're 'Passionate' about tropical drinks, this one's for you
Check out our updated review of the Piña Passion, including a new tribute recipe and history of iconic drinks served in pineapples. Learn about this symbol of hospitality and mainstay at The Mai-Kai since 1956.
What we learned at Appleton master blender Joy Spence’s rum tasting
What could be better than an Appleton rum tasting at The Mai-Kai? How about the first-ever such event at the historic Polynesian palace hosted by Joy Spence, the longtime master blender for the venerable Jamaican brand.
>>> CHECK OUT OUR FULL RECPAP AND PHOTOS
>>> Recipe: Joy Spence's favorite rum cocktail
PAST BLOGS OF INTEREST
The Atomic Grog presents new class and symposium at The Hukilau 2019
Hurricane Hayward of The Atomic Grog took guests on an virtual journey to the Caribbean to learn about the key rums and styles that have dominated The Mai-Kai’s acclaimed cocktails for more than 60 years. He was joined by rum expert Stephen Remsberg for an Okole Maluna Cocktail Academy class at Pier Sixty-Six hotel on June 8, and by Cocktail Wonk writer Matt Pietrek for an on-stage symposium at The Mai-Kai Grand Finale on June 9.
>>> HEAR THE SYMPOSIUM: Inside the Desert Oasis Room podcast
>>> Full preview plus last year's recap and photos
>>> Detailed reports and photos on Tiki Central
COMING SOON: Exclusive news on a new replacement for Kohala Bay rum at The Mai-Kai, plus more!
More on the rums of The Mai-Kai
* The history of the potent, funky flavors from Guyana and Jamaica
* Demerara rum - The Mai-Kai's secret weapon
The Hukilau 2019 rewind: Photos and video from social media
The Hukilau careened through Fort Lauderdale for its 18th annual Tiki weekender with an exhaustive schedule of events at the Pier Sixty-Six Hotel, B Ocean Resort and the historic Mai-Kai restaurant.
>>> SOCIAL POSTS FROM THE ATOMIC GROG AND VILLAGERS
The Hukilau 2019: Women of Tiki take over the tower
The signature Tiki Tower Takeover cocktail party included eight of the world's top female Tiki bartenders. Between sampling all the delicious drinks, hanging out with friends and enjoying the gorgeous views from the 17th-floor Pier Top Lounge, we managed to snap a few photos.
>>> FACEBOOK PHOTO GALLERY
Tiki Tower Takeover: Preview, photos and complete history
More on The Hukilau: Last party at Pier Sixty-Six? | Final preview, updates
Mai-Kai Walking Tour on Marooned: A Texas Tiki Podcast 
It was an honor to participate in The Mai-Kai history tour with carver Will Anders and manager Kern Mattei. It’s a real Tiki museum audio walking tour.
>>> CLICK HERE TO HEAR THE PODCAST
>>> Previous Marooned podcast: Hurricane Hayward talks Mai-Kai cocktails
Related stories on The Atomic Grog
* The Mai-Kai is here to stay: 10 reasons why we love the historic restaurant
* New giant carved Tiki added to outdoor garden for 60th anniversary
* 'King Kai' leads procession of new Tikis into The Mai-Kai
* Tour of The Mai-Kai's mysterious bars and kitchen (with photos)
Mai-Kai cocktail review: Drink like a native with the deadly Shrunken Skull
Take a deep dive into the history of a deadly classic cocktail with our fully enhanced review with a brand new tribute recipe and the true ancestor recipe from Don the Beachcomber.
>>> CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY
New cocktail books, magazine prove Tiki underground is alive and thriving
Is the printed word is dead? The appearance of several new cocktail and recipes books, along with a quarterly magazine devoted to the revival of Polynesian Pop and mid-century culture, would indicate otherwise.
PAST NEWS AND EVENT COVERAGE
Surprise winner, new spirit of aloha at fifth annual Art of Tiki in South Beach
Find out how an unassuming chef beat out Miami's top mixologists in the South Beach Wine & Food Festival's tropical bartending competition.
>>> Full event coverage, cocktail reviews, exclusive photos and history
VIPs, connoisseurs of fine spirits flock to first Miami Rum Congress
The inaugural Miami Rum Congress was an unqualified success, a star-studded gathering of rum industry experts that sold out the cozy and picturesque Shane Center in Miami Beach.
>>> Photo gallery and event recap
Special event: 'Demerara Rum - The Mai-Kai's Secret Weapon'
The Atomic Grog was pleased to present a special happy-hour talk during The Mai-Kai Takeover event, presented by the Magical Tiki Meet-Up and Retro Rekindled.
>>> Full event recap and photos
* See also: Rums of The Mai-Kai include potent, funky flavors
Epcot's Native American exhibit includes Hawaiian, Polynesian artifacts
The Hawaii and California display spotlights one of seven geographic regions of art, both historical and modern, in the American Heritage Gallery.
The Year in Tiki 2018: Recap all the top events with photos and video
What did you attend in 2018? Take a look back at the top happenings in the Tiki, rum and surf music worlds.
Florida bartender wins Chairman's Reserve Mai Tai Challenge
Gregory Schutt pulled off an upset victory in the regional finals to earn a trip to the global finals in St. Lucia.
Hulaween turns 10 with another ghoulish gathering
The Mai-Kai in Fort Lauderdale was overrun by a lively crowd of undead revelers who returned from the grave for a 10th time in search of a rockin' good time with Slip and the Spinouts.
The Atomic Grog on Marooned: A Texas Tiki Podcast 
Listen to Hurricane Hayward and podcaster David Phantomatic as they discuss (what else) the historic tropical drinks and influence of The Mai-Kai.
* Check out the new tribute recipes for a Mai-Kai classic, the Mutiny
Okole Maluna Cocktail Academy: How to Mix Like The Mai-Kai
Tips and techniques from The Atomic Grog's Hurricane Hayward for turning your home bar into a Tiki paradise.
>>> Check out highlights from the sold-out class at The Hukilau 2018
The Hukilau 2018 recap: Photos and video from social media
Check out a compilation of images from the whirlwind Tiki weekend in Fort Lauderdale.
The Mai-Kai updates bar menu, adds classic ‘lost’ cocktail
A new cocktail menu made its debut in May 2018 in The Molokai bar at The Mai-Kai, marking first update to the classic tropical drink lineup since 2014.
The Okole Maluna Society: The Mai-Kai Cocktail Guide
New monorail fleet in the works? Disney World denies rumors
Disney World may soon be getting replacements for its aging fleet of monorails, says the retired imagineer who designed the original iconic trains. But officially, theme park officials say there presently are no such plans.
TAKE 5: INTERVIEWS WITH MOVERS AND SHAKERS
August 2014: Otto von Stroheim, pioneering event promoter and Tiki tastemaker
April 2014: Ian Burrell, global rum ambassador and organizer of the UK RumFest
September 2013: Martin Cate, owner of Smuggler’s Cove in San Francisco and rum cocktail maestro
June 2013: Jeff “Beachbum” Berry, Tiki cocktail author and historian extraordinaire
June 2012: Rodney Mayo, guiding light of South Florida’s indie entertainment scene
November 2011: Mai-Kai General Manager Kern Mattei
September 2011: Artist Mike “Pooch” Pucciarelli
FROM THE ARCHIVES: OUR FAVORITE BLOGS
Need a punch recipe for 200? The Rum Rat Pack has it covered
The experts at The Hukilau's 'Rumposium' showed us how to fill a bowl with 630 ounces of deliciousness (including 240 ounces of rum) with style and flair.
Exotic cocktails at Altered State Tattoo’s 20th anniversary party
We were pleased to serve up drinks for special guests of artist Mike "Pooch" Pucciarelli at the 20th anniversary party for his South Florida shop that has gained him a worldwide following for his highly creative ink.
>>> Get the recipes: Altered State Zombie | Mai Ta-IPA
‘Boozy’ blog hosts birthday bash
The Atomic Grog celebrated its fifth anniversary with a cocktail party in The Molokai lounge at The Mai-Kai featuring live instrumental surf music from Skinny Jimmy Stingray, drink specials, giveaways, and more.
10 reasons why you need Sven Kirsten’s Tiki Pop
The third hardcover opus from the acclaimed Tiki urban archaeologist explores in rich and colorful detail the uniquely American phenomenon that permeated fashion, music, eating, drinking, and architecture for decades.
Jeff Berry proves he’s never too busy to be a 'Beachbum'
Author and cocktail historian Beachbum Berry solidified his standing as the "Indiana Jones" of Tiki mixology with his first branded product, unearthing a long-lost gadget from the catacombs of mid-century bar culture: Beachbum Berry's Navy Grog Ice Cone Kit.
Potions of the Caribbean: Cruise back to the birthplace of Tiki drinks
Beachbum Berry’s sixth book on tropical drinks and the fascinating stories behind them could be considered the sequel to Sippin’ Safari, both in style and substance.
In memoriam: Wayne Coombs of Mai Tiki, 1949-2012
Like the imposing Tikis that he carved for more than 40 years, Cocoa Beach’s Wayne Coombs was a larger-than-life figure with a mischievous bent and a style all his own.
>>> Remembering Wayne: My brush with greatness
Stretching the limits of the imagination
The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg is a surreal experience in its own right.
MORE ON RUM & COCKTAILS
* Navy Rum and Black Tot Day: When men were men, and sailors drank Daiquiris
* Spice up your tequila cocktails with fiery gourmet syrups
* Miami mixologist shows how to jazz up your tired old cocktails
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